Man who hanged himself in jail identified

Newport Beach police have released the name of the Lake Elsinore man who hanged himself while in police custody last week.

Michael Purnell, 50, was arrested Thursday morning on a number of outstanding warrants, police said. An anonymous caller told police where they could find Purnell, Sgt. Evan Sailor said.

Purnell was wanted on a $50,000 warrant for not showing up for a mandatory court appearance. He was out on bail.

In October, Purnell was arrested for allegedly receiving a stolen handicapped placard, cellphone and possessing methamphetamines, according to court documents.

Prosecutors had added sentencing enhancements for previous convictions, including a 2002 conviction for receiving stolen property. In 2001 he pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary.

Purnell was arrested at 10:15 a.m. Thursday and held in the police department jail. He was alone, Sailor said.

The jail is monitored by camera and officers check the half-dozen cells more than once an hour, Sailor said. Purnell was alone in his cell, police said.

When an officer made his routine check at about 2 p.m. that day, he found Purnell leaning forward with bedding around his neck, police said. The officer tried to resuscitate Purnell until medics arrived, Sailor said. Newport Beach paramedics were unable to revive him, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

This is the first time in the department’s history someone has died while in police custody, police said.

County prosecutors are investigating, which is routine for in-custody deaths.

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at joseph.serna@latimes.com.